Finding the distance of 2 charges

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Remember to always double check your units and use the correct values for variables. Good luck!In summary, the forum user shared their attempted solution for part B of the problem, where they correctly rearranged the equation to solve for r. However, they used the incorrect value for v and did not take into account the fact that the distance between the two charges is considered infinite, resulting in their calculations being off. The user was reminded to double check their units and use the correct values for variables.
  • #1
kamehamehaaa
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Homework Statement



On attachment called Part B

Homework Equations



To get part A, I used a formula that I derived to be:

square root [(2kq^2)/rm)] = v

where
q =2.6 *10^-6 C
k = 8.99*10^9 (Nm^2)/C^2
r = 1.27m
m = .0028 kg

The Attempt at a Solution



Now for part B it says to calculate the distance r when it is half of v, so I thought maybe I could rearrange the equation above to

(2kq^2)/((v^2)*m) = r

so it would look like...

[2 * 8.99^9 * (2.6*10^-6)^2]/[((5.84/2)^2)*.0028] = r

I used dimensional analysis and it comes out to be

[(Nm^2/C^2)C^2]/[(kgm^2)/(s^2)]

then I cancel what I can to get

(Ns^2)/kg which in turn, becomes

1ms^2/s^2 which at the end turns out to be left with only meters...

So it seems like I'm right but obviously I am not...

OK in the attachment are the answers I submit after doing so many bizaarrreee calculations... ANy help would be appreciated... I think the reason I'm not getting hte correct answer is becuase the question states "at infinity" and I have no Idea what that means...
 

Attachments

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    Part B.JPG
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  • #2


Thank you for sharing your attempted solution for part B of the problem. It looks like you have correctly rearranged the equation to solve for r. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

Firstly, when solving for r, you want to use the half of v value, which in this case would be 5.84 m/s, not 5.84/2 m/s. So your final equation should look like:

[2 * 8.99^9 * (2.6*10^-6)^2]/[(5.84)^2*.0028] = r

Secondly, the "at infinity" in this problem means that the two charges are so far apart that the force between them can be considered negligible. In other words, the distance between them is so large that it essentially becomes infinite. So when solving for r, you are finding the distance between the two charges when the force between them is essentially zero.

I hope this helps clarify things for you. Keep up the good work in deriving and solving equations!
 
  • #3


I can provide a response to your attempt at solving this problem. Your approach of rearranging the equation to solve for r is correct. However, the reason you are not getting the correct answer is because your conversion from units is incorrect.

When using dimensional analysis, it is important to keep track of the units and their corresponding powers. In your calculation, you have the unit of Coulomb squared in the numerator and in the denominator, which cancels out leaving you with just meters. This is not correct.

To solve this problem, you need to use the correct conversion factors for each unit. For example, for Newtons, you need to use the conversion factor of 1 N = 1 kg*m/s^2. Similarly, for Coulombs, you need to use the conversion factor of 1 C = 1 A*s. By using the correct conversion factors, you will end up with the correct units and the correct answer.

Additionally, the term "at infinity" means that the distance between the two charges is extremely large, approaching an infinite distance. This can be represented by using a very large number, such as 10^9 or 10^12, for the distance r. This will also affect your final answer.

In conclusion, your approach to solving this problem is correct, but you need to use the correct conversion factors and consider the distance as approaching infinity to get the correct answer. I hope this helps and good luck with your calculations.
 

1. What is the formula for finding the distance between two charges?

The formula for finding the distance between two charges is given by: d = q1q2 / 4πε0Fc, where d is the distance, q1 and q2 are the two charges, ε0 is the permittivity of free space, and Fc is the electrostatic force between the two charges.

2. How do I determine the direction of the distance between two charges?

The direction of the distance between two charges is determined by the relative positions of the charges. If the charges are of the same sign, the distance will be positive and will point away from both charges. If the charges are of opposite signs, the distance will be negative and will point towards the other charge.

3. Can the distance between two charges be negative?

Yes, the distance between two charges can be negative if the charges are of opposite signs. This indicates that the charges are attracting each other and the distance is measured towards the other charge.

4. How do I convert the distance between two charges from meters to centimeters?

The distance between two charges can be converted from meters to centimeters by multiplying the distance in meters by 100. This is because there are 100 centimeters in one meter.

5. How does the distance between two charges affect the strength of the electrostatic force?

The distance between two charges and the strength of the electrostatic force are inversely proportional. This means that as the distance between the charges decreases, the electrostatic force between them increases. Likewise, as the distance between the charges increases, the electrostatic force decreases.

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